What I am hearing from Carlock is a top-heavy sound, driving the time with the chomping hihat instead of a kick/snare groove. I hear a lot of guys doing this in NYC clubs, partly stylistic and also environmental (tiny clubs, tiny bass drums, no amplification for the rest of the band). Not that there aren't small clubs everywhere, but New York is where there is enough critical mass of people playing this music and pushing it forward that it can be appreciated as a style (IMO).
Having said that, not EVERYONE in NYC plays like that.
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Here's Kim Thompson with Stern at the 55 Bar (a must-visit! I saw Pelton there once, he had more tambourines than cymbals on his kit), delivering a little energy:<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/GA3k9NRpcuk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
She's pretty wonderful.
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